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<br />'- <br /> <br />'~,~ "J f"l6' <br />~u ~' .:l <br /> <br />its use. After the Supreme Court decision, a compact commission was created by the <br />two states and a compact was negotiated which became effective in 1945. The Caddoa <br />reservoir is being operated under the direction of the Commission and there is no <br />tension between the two states, or any of the interests in the states regarding the <br />Arkansas River. This >Jould not have been possible vnthout the Arkansas River Com- <br />__~..L <br />peu";,,,. <br /> <br />~ater use problems between certain interests in Kansas and certain <br />interests in Colorado developed on the Republican River at an early date. A Unite, <br />States District Court rendered a d~cision on some of these problems which had been <br />,'rought before that Court. Such decisions, however, did not solve interstate prob- <br />',ems with respect to the use of the waters of the stream. <br /> <br />Development of the water supplies of the Republican River was desired <br />'" the states of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. This development could not take <br />~ce until the waters were apportioned among the three states. This was done by <br />,~ Republican River Compact which became effective in 1943. Since that time five <br />'l~S have been constructed and nine additional dams are authorized for constructio~, <br /> <br />This compact had one feature which former compacts did not have, but <br />"'luch subsequent compacts do have. I have indicated above that the consent of the <br />,jongress does not constitute approval by the United States of the provisions of the <br />"ompact. However, the Republican River Compact did recognize the interest of the <br />;~ited States and, to a certain extent, its obligations. <br /> <br />The North Platte River is covered by a Supreme Court decree. Before <br />1" e commencement of the Supreme Court suit, futile efforts were made over a period <br />years to negotiate a compact on this river. I am confident that, had those <br />",':corts been successful, the remaining needed development on the North Platte River <br />w0uld be proceeding under logical planning by the three states of Nebraska, Wyoming, <br />ond Colorado, working with relevant federal agencies. <br /> <br />A Supreme Court decision in 1922 fixed the status of the uses of the <br />'vaters of the Laramie River. Three decisions, including a clarifying one, have <br />oeen rendered by the Supreme Court since that tiec. In spite of such decisions, <br />current efforts are being made to resolve some intra-state water use problems in <br />Colorado concerning the Laramie River, which may develop into efforts for a compact <br />resulting in an amicable adjust8ent of a long-pending controversy. <br /> <br />Water USe problems in the I<lissouri River basin are complicated and are <br />apt to become more so as the various units of the Missouri River basin plan progres- <br />sively go into operation. Some of the fundamental problems were settled by the <br />authorizing legislation. However, it will be necessary to set up machinery to <br />bring about a coordinated operation of the various units of the project which will <br />perform various functions and serve several states. I understand that the officials <br />of the states of the basin, recognizing this, are having certain studies made to <br />determine the practicability of negotiating a compact among the states to carry out <br />these purposes. A compact betITeen the states of Wyoming and South Dakota exists on <br />the Cheyenne River and its principal tributary, the Belle Fourche River. Some of <br />the units of the Missouri River Basin Project will be constructed and operated under <br />the terms of this compact. <br /> <br />Efforts have been made to negotiate a compact among the states of <br />Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota over the uses of the waters of the Yellowstone <br />River. It is understood that the terms of a compact have been essentially agreed <br />upon by representatives of the states. In the meanti~e, at least one reservoir of <br /> <br />-9- <br />